Canada

I've got it figured that Canada is NOT such a great country. And it's possible that I'm thinking this way because of the rotten weather the last two days...but in general comparison to most other countries, they are better. And please don't bring up our "free" health care...that is a subject better left to other forums.

We have terrible weather for 5 months of the year, and no where in Canada to go to avoid it. Don't talk to me about Victoria...their winter weather sucks too! Canadians have nowhere to go but south...and of course many do.

Snow

Well, there's a big snowstorm happening in Eastern Ontario today, so we are missing the warmth of Mexico and we were reminiscing a bit. Last year at this time, we were parked in a farmers field among the palm trees.

We don't watch TV

At least not much. Occasionally we do tune in to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!

However we do watch a lot of movies. When we settled the motorhome into the Kingston KOA last May, we signed up at http://www.zip.ca/

This is an online movie rental service available anywhere there is mail delivery in Canada. We find it so convenient! You make a list of movies you'd like to see from their 74,000 online titles.

Sunday afternoon drive

We went for a nice drive Sunday afternoon. I was born in Belleville, Ontario but my parents moved to Ottawa when I was two, so I don't have any memories of it. And, we wanted to do the Loyalist Parkway from Kingston to Belleville, and go across the Glenora-Picton ferry. This would be a very nice drive in the spring and summer, with lots of choice spots to stop for a walk or a picnic along the way.

Couchsurfing

Last night, we went to a pot luck dinner. We didn't know anybody there, but the event was hosted in a private home through a website all the attendees were members of. There were 18 of us there...people from Australia, Sweden, Ireland, and some from other parts of Canada.

What have we been up to...

We stopped writing our last blog because it was a trip journal...and our 18 month long motorhome trip was over. You can still view it here:

http://www.mytripjournal.com/kevin_ruth

So we decided to settle in Kingston, Ontario for the time being. Ruth got a part time job at the Kingston KOA, so that's where we lived in Sherman the motorhome.

Last Minute Travel from Canada

We haven't done a last minute trip for quite a while, but whenever we need a quick week or two away, we like to book at the last minute. The main benefit is that you can get a great price. For example, today you can book an all-inclusive trip to Varadero, Cuba from Toronto for $435 CAN per person and that's TAX INCLUDED. That's your airfare, meals, hotel, and drinks...all included!

You book today...and leave tomorrow. How great would that be?!

Welcome to our new cyber home!

We'll be posting here every day...even when we're not travelling. If there's something going on in the world, we're probably going to comment on it. You may not always agree with us, but that's what makes the world an interesting place. Sometimes, Ruth and I don't agree with each other! And feel free to leave a comment or send us an email...we love hearing from the people who follow our travels.

Staying in Kingston for the winter

I apologize for not posting for a while, and we appreciate the concern from all who have sent us notes.

Ruth's Mom had been suffering from Alzheimers for the last couple of years and we didn't expect that she would make it through the winter. So we made plans to stick close to home for this winter. We've been lucky enough to come across a nice house sitting opportunity in Kingston, so will be spending the winter here. Unfortunately, Ruth's Mom passed away a couple of weeks ago, but now that we've made the plans we're going to follow through and stay here. Sherman will be parked for the winter.

The bright side to this plan is that we hope to head to Yukon and Alaska in May of 2010, and spend the summer exploring the north!

Oh, and we've been living in the motorhome full time for 2 years, as of this week. And, loving it...

New job

Boy, I have been lazy with the updates!

We continue to wait for summer to begin. Well, we’ve been getting the odd nice day, maybe highs of 23C (75F) or so, but certainly not as warm as it should be, and too much rain as well.I started a new job, while adjusting my hours at the RV place. First time in my life I think, that I have worked two jobs at the same time! But between them, they only add up to 36 hours per week. I enjoy the difference between them, so it doesn’t feel like working full time. All so that we can go back south this winter! Anyhow, I picked up a contract courier route between Kingston and Perth…about 85 km’s (52 miles) each way, 5 days a week. It’s very good money for 3 hours per day.

Road trip!

Unfortunately, with just the car.

Sherman will stay put, parked up at the Kingston KOA.

We're off to visit our daughter in Nova Scotia and to see her college graduation ceremony. It'll be a whirlwind trip...leaving tonight at 4pm, driving through the night and arriving at her place Monday morning sometime...1,600 kms (1,000 miles) each way. We both have to work again on Thursday, so will be leaving Nova Scotia on Wednesday morning to return to here.

Back in Kingston

Well the last week went by very quickly. We left last Sunday at 4pm and drove all night to get to Lindsey’s place in Kentville, NS. We took turns driving, but still found it difficult to get any sleep on the road. Driving 1,600 kms (1,000 miles) straight through is a LOOOONG drive!

Kingston, Ontario

Saturday May 30…7:45am

Well, we have been a full month at the KOA Kingston. Work is going well, and there’s not much else going on. Ruth has been given extra hours working at the campground…she’s now in charge of cleaning the pool as well.

Kingston, Ontario

Friday May 15…9:30pm

Okay, time for an update. After writing this journal almost every day for the last 18 months, I needed a break!

Kingston, Ontario

Sherman and our car at the Kingston KOA Kampground


Friday May 1…11:00pm

Drove down to our summer parking spot today. We are parked up at the KOA near Kingston, Ontario for the next 6 months. About a 2 hour drive from either of our parents, so close visiting distance.

Ruth will be handling the “workamping” responsibilities, which involve 16 hours per week of work at the campground in order to pay for our full service campsite. We also get free internet, and free use of the laundry. Any hours over and above the 16, she will get paid for. I will go into Kingston and get a job…hopefully something within bike riding distance from the campground, although we do have our small car with us.